Aeroplane.



C. M. MGMAHON.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

665.5 mi( am CONNELL M. MOMAHON, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

AEROPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.- 1, 1914.

Application tiled April 29, 1914. Serial No. 835,140.

To all w/Lom t may concern Be it known that I, CONNELL M. MC- MAHON,citizen of the United States, resident of Minneapolis, county ofHennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to increase the area of the plane surfacesexposed to the air currents without enlarging the machine.

A further object is to provide improved means for restoring theequilibrium of the machine easily and quickly.

A further object is to provide an improved fuel oil receptacle for thepropellin engines. l

ther objects of the invention will appear from the following detaileddescription.

The invention consists generally in various constructions andcombinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed outin the claims. I

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a front elevation of an aeroplane embodying my invention, Fig. 2 isa sectional view on the line of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an end elevation ofthe machine.

In the drawing, 2, 3 and 4 represent planes, rectangular in form,arranged one above another and suitably spaced apart and inclinedforwardly and upwardly. The upper plane is preferably provided with agas chamber 5 to increase the buoyancy of the machine. The planes areprovided at the corners with rods 6 which hold them in suitable spacedrelation and upright bars 7 are also provided at the front and rear ofthe machine, connecting the longitudinal edges of the planes and holdingthem rigidly in parallel relation with one another. The lower plane isprovided with suitable wheels 8, such as are usually arranged beneath amachine of this type.

9 is a forward propeller and 10 a rear propeller, connected respectivelywith a suitable source of motive power, indicated at 11.

I prefer to provide two motors, located near the middle portion of themachine, one in front and the other in the rear, and the pro ellers arefastened respectively to the sha ts of the motors on the outside of themachine frame, the front propeller bemg adapted to pull ahead while therear one 1s pushing behind, and if for any reason one of the motorsshould become inoperatrve and stop, the other motor, operatlnglndependently thereof, will drive the other propeller until the machinecan be directed to a place of safety.

12 is a fuel oil receptacle, arched over the middle portion of themachine from the front to the rear, having its highest point in themiddle and adapted to feed a fuel 011 to the'motors in any position ofthe aeroplane, except, of course, in case the plane should turn bottomup, but that position would be practically impossible for the car toassume, because of the balancing blades to be hereinafter described, andthe gas chamber located in the top of the machine.

The steering is preferably accomplished by a rudder 13, pivoted at 14and normally held in a horizontal position by a spring 15. A frame 16,preferably rectangular in form, is preferably connected to therudder-bar at one end and is also pivoted at 17 to the upright post 18.A seat 19 extends along beneath this frame and the person steering thema chine will sit on this seat within the frame 16 and by tilting thisframe to the right or left or up or down, can change the position of therudder and easily ide the machine. The post 20 at the rear sidi;l of thecar serves as a support for the rudder bar, allowing it to be oscillatedin any direction.

Between the rudder and the ends of the plane I prefer to provide seats21 corresponding to the middle seat and carrying a bearing for the lowerend of a crank shaft 22 that is journaled near its upper end in theframe of the middle plane 3. On the upper end of the crank shaft is aliftin blade 23 arranged in a suitable plane an adapted, when revolved,to exert a lifting action and restore the aeroplane to its horizontalequilibrium. There being one of these lifting blades on each side of thecenter of the machine and an operator stationed by each blade, itfollows that fin case either end of the machine should tilt downward theoperator at that end, by revolving the lifting plane, while the forwardmotion of the machine continues, will be able to lift the end until thedesired horizontal position is again regained. This lifting blade may bemade of any suitable size, according to the carrying capacity f themachine, and the size of the planes, and ordinarily it would benecessary for the operator to revolve the blade a few times to restorethe machine to its normal horizontal position that the o erator desiresit to assume while makingl a fight.

Both lifting or balancing blades may be used in rising from the groundto assist the flight, and they may also be used in ali hting, inaddition to their function of ai ing the gas chamber in keeping theaeroplane in balance.

ln various ways the details of construction herein shown and describedmay be modified and still be within the scope of my invention.

l claim as my invention:

1. An' aeroplane comprising upper and lower planes, a propellerrevolving in a vertical plane and a motor therefor, upright crank shaftsmounted in said planes upon opposite sides of said propeller andequidistantsubstantially therefrom, liftingblades mounted on saidshafts, operators seats provided adjacent to said. crank shafts, therevolution of said lifting bladesoperating to maintain said plane in asubstantially horizontal position.

2. An aeroplane comprising an upper and lower plane, forward and rearmotors therein, forward and rear propelling blades operatively connectedwith said motors and an arched oil receptacle supported above saidmotors and connected therewith for supplying fuel oil to said motors indiderent positions of said plane. l

3. An aeroplane comprising upper and ananas lower planes and rodsAholding them in spaced relation, an intermediate plane parallel withsaid upper and. lower planes and spaced therefrom, a propeller bladeoperating in a vertical plane, and balancing blades operating inhorizontal planes upon opposite sides of said propeller blade above andadjacent to said intermediate plane.

l. An aeroplane comprising utpper and lower planes, a centrally arrangelongitudinal seat therein, a propeller blade operating in a verticalplane, a frame arranged above said seat and pivotally connected at oneend with the forward portion of said aeroplane, a rudder bar pivoted inthe rear portion of said aeroplane and projecting backwardly therefromand provided with rudder blades, the forward end. of said bar beingpivotally connected with said frame,

and means for yieldingly holding said rudder bar in a substantiallyhorizontal position.

5. An aeroplane comprising upper and lower planes, an intermediate planeparallel with said upper and lower planes and spaced therefrom, apropeller blade operating in a vertical plane, and balancing bladesoperating in a horizontal plane upon opposite sides of said propellerblade and adjacent to said intermediate plane.

ln witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of April,1914s.

coNNEL'L M Mortar-ion.

Witnesses:

GENEVIEVE E. SORENSEN, EDWARD A.. PAUL.

